Pianist

40th Anniversary Spring Concert featuring four Guest Soloists to be announced.

EPSG:4326

The Verdi Chorus 40th Anniversary Spring Concert

First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica

Helmed by Anne Marie Ketchum, who is celebrating forty consecutive years as Artistic Director of the organization, Cavalleria Rusticana will star award-winning mezzo soprano Audrey Babcock as Santuzza, tenor Todd Wilander as Turiddu, who comes to the production direct from the Metropolitan Opera, and renowned baritone Roberto Perlas Gómez, who, with over 100 roles to his credit, has performed extensively throughout the United States. The Verdi Chorus, the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus, will join the opera.

Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana is considered the first verismo opera, which is focused not on mythological figures, or kings and queens, but of the much earthier daily struggles and emotions of men and women. And it depicts the emotionally charged, and sometimes violent situations that can result. According to Opera Online, “Cavalleria Rusticana, which could be translated as “rustic chivalry,” is characterised by the extreme simplicity of its plot in which fits of jealousy clash with the exaltation of honour. Mascagni was able to retain all the power of a bloody news story. Verdi himself, after hearing the work, said ‘I can die in peace.’”

Cavalleria Rusticana

The Verdi Chorus’ 39th season culminates with  A Verdi Puccini Fest, for two performances only at the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica on November 12 and 13.  Led by Founding Artistic Director Anne Marie Ketchum, the Verdi Chorus is the only choral group in Southern California that focuses primarily on the dramatic and diverse music for opera chorus. This program, which Ketchum says  includes “some of the most exciting moments from two of the greatest operatic composers who ever lived,” will feature selections from four Verdi operas – I Lombardi, Don Carlo, Rigoletto, and La traviata, and sequences from Puccini’s Turandot, La bohème, Suor Angelica, Tosca, La fanciulla del West, and La rondine.
Conductor Anne Marie Ketchum says, “Both Verdi and Puccini were masters of writing operatic music that was extremely theatrical. Verdi is known for melody, and Puccini is known for dramatically writing for the orchestra with his striking use of colors and rhythm in a rich theatrical style. They are truly deserving of being referred to as two of the greatest opera composers that ever lived.  In terms of the opera chorus, Verdi wrote for the chorus as an actual character and force in what the leading characters were saying and doing, and Puccini wrote musical tones and hues for the chorus to illustrate more deeply the story being told.”

A Verdi Puccini Fest

Performances of Hélas mon Coeur are dedicated to the memory of Dr. Aurelio De La Vega, longtime board member and benefactor of the Verdi Chorus, who passed away in February. To carry on his important legacy of sponsoring the guest sopranos that sang with the Chorus, donations may be made to the Maestro Aurelio De La Vega Guest Artist Fund which provides financial support to guest soloists who sing with the Chorus in performances.

Laraine Ann Madden

Pianist

Events

27 - 28 Apr, 2024

The Verdi Chorus 40th Anniversary Spring Concert · Verdi Chorus

Jan 20, 2024

Cavalleria Rusticana · Verdi Chorus

12 - 13 Nov, 2022

A Verdi Puccini Fest · Verdi Chorus

14 - 15 May, 2022

Spring 2022: Hélas mon coeur · Verdi Chorus

About

Laraine Ann Madden hasn't added a bio